18 miles north of Decatur on Route 48 near Argenta. The park feature three nature trails - the quarter-mile Friends Creek Trail, the 2-mile Woodland Trail, and the 2.5-mile Sun Trail. Each varies in difficulty and meanders through topographies ranging from open meadows and floodplains, to towering oak-hickory forests and undulating hillsides.

Weldon Springs State Recreation Area is a 550-acre state park located near Clinton, Illinois. It centers on Salt Creek and the impoundment of a tributary, Weldon Springs, to form Weldon Spring Lake, a reservoir.

Little Galilee's 228 acres of land provide lots of room for kids to eat, sleep, learn, play and pray with dedicated Christian adults. There are a variety of camps and programs that for youth and adults which may include: Fine Arts or Sports camp, Equestrian Camp, Family Camp, Main Camp, Day Camp, Wilderness Camp and many more.

Created in 1927 from an old sand pit across the road from Lake Decatur, the city's oldest garden was extensively renovated in 1992. Its resurrected look features secluded paths leading through rocky terraces planted with unusual trees, and landscapes brimming with colorful perennials. Towering bald Cypress trees, planted in the 1920s, still reign over these delightful grounds.

Rock Springs Center is the largest park in the Macon County Conservation District properties with a total of 1,343 acres in the southwest area of Decatur, IL. The Sangamon River runs through Rock Springs and several small ponds dot the landscape. A wide range of terrain including forest, wetland, grassland, and restored Illinois prairie make Rock Springs a destination for nature lovers. Rock Springs is also home to a large nature center, a museum, a restored farmhouse, nearly nine miles of hiking trails, and a paved bike trail. Rock Springs is a favorite for families all year round. Rooms and pavilions are available for rent for meetings and events.

Ice skating available during fall/winter months. Call ahead for exact dates. Admission to the ice arena is $6 and skate rentals are $2. During the spring/summer months, the arena is used as venue for shows and fairs.

The origins and growth of the Decatur Gun Club parallel that of the clay target itself, and the games created to hone and test shotgun shooting skill. Shotgun sport shooting with live pigeons and later, glass balls existed in the U.S. from the early 1800's. But the first "clay pigeon" and "trap" to throw it were not developed until about 1880 by George Ligowsky. William Brett From Decatur was the second manufacturer of clay targets in the U.S., which he called the "Decatur Red Bird". Considered the oldest shotgun shooting sports club in Illinois, the Decatur Gun Club was founded soon after clay targets were invented. Chan Powers and Bert Hildebrandt were two of the mentors of the club, first located near East William Street Road and 22nd Street. In the early years, the club occupied sites in the Hess Park area, the Wyckles Corner area, the Macon County Fairgrounds, and an area west of the Fairgrounds before finding it's home of the past 61 years at the north end of Faries Park.

The bikeway connects three area parks with a 3.2-mile, 10-foot wide, handicapped accessible trail for enjoyment by hikers and bikers alike. Tote along your favorite fixings to enjoy on the trail or designated picnic areas.

Sand Creek is a 755-acre open space site located just south of Decatur off South Franklin Street. Hike the trails to the bluff overlooking Sand Creek for panoramic view of the countryside. Over 7.5 total miles with varying difficulty. Open to hikers & horseback riders.

Sometimes called the "shot-maker's" course, Scovill Golf Club is hilly and tree-lined. Golfers will enjoy the manicured fairways surrounded by natural plantings on Decatur's only Audubon sanctioned course. Scovill was designed by Tom Bendelow and redesigned by Dick Nugent. Scovill was named on one of the top 100 women-friendly course in the United States by Golf for Women. It is also the course most frequented by out-of-town golfers.

Serenity envelopes this intimate area, where visitors are welcomed by a Chinese Fu dog and flowering dogwoods, star magnolia, Japanese lilac, and rhododendron -- foliage native to the Orient. Originally commissioned by Guy and Rose Scovill in the 1920's and reconstructed in the 1980's, the gardens' soothing nature encompasses a small reflective point, sod bridge, and oriental sculptures, and surrounds a small cottage, which is available for gatherings and retreats.

This zoo overlooking Lake Decatur is home to animals from around the world, the Z.O.&O. Express train, the Endangered Species Carousel and the Zootique Gift Shop. Family events and activities are offered regularly.